Val Dumond

Author

Publisher

Editor

Consultant

Articles on Writing, Grammar, and Publishing
by Val Dumond

What's on Val's mind now?

Val writes articles on grammar, the art and science of writing, and publishing, for budding writers and seasoned authors alike. These articles are not only informative and educational, they're entertaining - written as only Val can. Enjoy this latest of her articles:

How to Write a Paragraph
by Val Dumond
© Copyright 2011

The art of paragraph writing can make or break a piece of writing. Its importance cannot be overstated, because your book or article or essay will either make sense or just offer a jumbled mess of disorganized information without well-planned paragraphs.

"Remember that the topic sentence begins each paragraph," warned your Miss Miller as she pounded into your head the "proper way" to write a topic sentence. She was right, you know, or at least partly right.

Topic sentences generally appear at the beginning of paragraphs. Some of my favorite newswriters and columnists use that technique. However, professionally writers are not held to that guideline. A topic sentence can appear at the beginning, the end, or in the middle of a paragraph.

Beginning:
Red is considered a color most used in plants to keep them alive. Red attracts pollinators and friendly insects. Hummingbirds and bees also are attracted to the color red in flowers that offer sugary nectar. In addition, the red attracts other birds that eat the fruit and spread the seeds to keep plants growing.

End:
Red attracts pollinators and friendly insects to plants. Hummingbirds and bees are attracted to the color red in flowers that offer sugary nectar. Red also attracts other birds that eat the fruit and spread the seeds to keep plants growing. Red is considered a color most used in plants to keep them alive.

Middle:
Because red attracts pollinators and friendly insects to plants, and because hummingbirds and bees are attracted to the color red in flowers that offer sugary nectar, Red is considered a color most used in plants to keep them alive. Red also attracts other birds that eat the fruit and spread the seeds to keep plants growing.

The purpose of the topic sentence is to provide the theme for the paragraph. The best writing I know, particularly valuable in newspapers and magazines, uses the topic sentence up front. Then, by scanning only that topic sentence of each paragraph, a reader can quickly discern the contents of the article.

Careful writers build their paragraphs meticulously, and they vary the size of paragraphs. In newswriting, paragraphs usually are short; in fiction writing, paragraphs tend to be longer. And the best writers vary the length of paragraphs, interspersing a very short one or a long one occasionally, much as they vary the length of sentences. A longer paragraph will include a more complete set of details about the subject, alerting the reader not to miss anything by skipping over it. That observation is lost in news articles because of the need for short, punchy paragraphs to present the news quickly.

A short paragraph grabs attention.

Read the last two paragraphs again and notice the varied lengths and the punch that is provided by the brief paragraph.

Transitioning between paragraphs is an art. Often a word from the end of one paragraph, repeated at the beginning of the ensuing paragraph, does the trick. Parallel construction is another technique that ties paragraphs together. Some words automatically give direction to the reader by setting the time or space of the topic, such words as: yet, still, next, first, finally, however, moreover, thus.

A favorite with some writers is to use parallel construction with opening topic sentences. This offers a way for writers to set up the framework for an article. Consider the following topic sentences, to be followed in each paragraph with the details to support them:

• Red is a wild color.
• Red is a hot color.
• Red is a sexy color.
• Red is a warning color.
• Red is a color that offers intensity.

As you read your newspapers, magazines, and books, become aware of the ways - the many ways - that writers construct their paragraphs. Find the technique that best suits what you are writing, and use it.

Happy paragraphing!

Val has three soon-to-be-published books: The JOY of Grammar, The Creative Instinct, and Ahlam, Story of an Iraqi Life.

Back to the main Articles page

Please feel free to contact me. I welcome your comments and any specific questions you may have.